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Unicellular Algae of the Great Lakes Region

  

Euastrum sp.

Bicells

Chilomonas sp.

Flagellates

Meringosphaera sp.

Amoeboid, ciliate or setae

Stephanodiscus niagarae

Disc or Cylindric

Monoraphidium griffithii

Needle

Spinoclosterium cuspidatum

Sickle

Gyrosigm strigile

Sigmoid

Tetraedron sp.

Tetragonal/pyramidal

Asterococcus limneticus

Spherical

Gonyostomum semen

Pyriform (flame or teardrop shaped)

Synechococcus sp.

Rod-shaped

Achnanthidium_exigua

Pennate

Epipyxis sp.

Attached

 

Rhopalodia gibba

Irregular

Chrysophyta lagynion

Flask

Glenodinium pulvisculus

Sculpted

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Great Lakes Algae Species List

Division Chlorophyta - Green Algae Division Chrysophyta
  • Class Xanthophyceae

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  • Class Chrysophyceae
    • Order Chromulinales
      • Family Chromulinaceae
        • Genus Chromulina
          • Chromulina erkensis*#
          • Chromulina minor*
          • Chromulina vagans#
          • Chromulina zartensis*
      • Family Chrysococcaceae
        • Genus Chrysococcus#
          • Chrysococcus rufescens*
        • Genus Kephyrion
          • Kephyrion asper*
          • Kephyrion boreale*#
          • Kephyrion cupuliformae*#
          • Kephyrion cylindricum*
          • Kephyrion doliolum*#
          • Kephyrion littorale*#
          • Kephyrion ovale*#
          • Kephyrion rubi-calustri*
          • Kephyrion spirale*H
    • Order Chrysomonadales
      • Suborder Chromulineae
        • Family Mallomonadaceae
          • Genus Mallomonas #H
            • Mallomonas acaroides
            • Mallomonas alpina
            • Mallomonas apochromatica
            • Mallomonas caudata
            • Mallomonas elliptica
            • Mallomonas fastigata
            • Mallomonas majorensis*
            • Mallomonas producta
            • Mallomonas pseudocoronata*
            • Mallomonas tonsurata
            • Mallomonas urnaformis
      • Suborder Isochrysidineae
      • Suborder Ochromonadineae
        • Family Ochromonadaceae
          • Genus Epipyxis*#
          • Genus Hyalobryon*
            • Hyalobryon mucicola
          • Genus Ochromonas*#
          • Genus Pseudokephyrion
            • Pseudokephyrion acutum*
            • Pseudokephyrion alaskanum*
            • Pseudokephyrion attenuatum*#H
            • Pseudokephyrion conicum*#
            • Pseudokephyrion ellipsoideum#
            • Pseudokephyrion entzii#
            • Pseudokephyrion formosissimum*
            • Pseudokephyrion latum*#
            • Pseudokephyrion millerense*#
            • Pseudokephyrion undulatissimum*
    • Order Chrysosphaerales
    • Order Monosigales
    • Order Prymnesiales
    • Order Rhizochrysidales

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  • Class Bacillariophyceae - Diatoms (See - Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA siteChecklist of Great Lakes Diatoms) - The list below highlights only those species found in the supplemental references. Be sure to click the above link if you want the full list! All species listed below are also included in the linked checklist except: Cyclotella tecta, Cyclotella unipunctata, Gomphonema simus, Nitzschia pilum Thalassiosira baltica and Synedra socia.
      • Genus Achnanthes
        • Achnanthes brevipes #
        • Achnanthes conspicua *#
        • Achnanthes didyma #
        • Achnanthes dispar *
        • Achnanthes oestrupi *#
      • Genus Achnanthidium
        • Achnanthidium biasolettianum *#
        • Achnanthidium exiguum *#
        • Achnanthidium exilis *
        • Achnanthidium kryophila #
        • Achnanthidium microcephalum *
        • Achnanthidium minutissimum *#
      • Genus Amphipleura
        • Amphipleura pellucida *#
      • Genus Amphora
        • Amphora hemicycla *
        • Amphora ovalis *#H
        • Amphora perpusilla *#
        • Amphora thumensis *#
      • Genus Brachysira
        • Brachysira vitrea *#
      • Genus Caloneis
        • Caloneis bacillum *
      • Genus Campylodiscus
        • Campylodiscus noricus
          • Campylodiscus noricus var. hibernicus (aka Campylodiscus noricus var. hibernica, C. hibernicus)H
      • Genus Cavinula
        • Cavinula jaernefeltii (aka Navicula jaernefeltii)*
        • Cavinula lacustris (aka Navicula lacustris)*
      • Genus Cocconeis
        • Cocconeis disculus *
        • Cocconeis neodiminuta (aka Cocconeis diminuta)*#
        • Cocconeis pediculus#
        • Cocconeis placentula*#
      • Genus Coscinodiscus
        • Coscinodiscus rothii #
      • Genus Craticula
        • Craticula cuspidata (aka Navicula cuspidata) H
      • Genus Cyclostephanos
        • Cyclostephanos dubius (aka Stephanodiscus dubius)*#H
        • Cyclostephanos tholiformis *#
      • Genus Cyclotella
        • Cyclotella antiqua *
        • Cyclotella atomus E*#
        • Cyclotella catenata *
        • Cyclotella comensis *# DhDe
        • Cyclotella comta *#H DsDh
        • Cyclotella cryptica E*#
        • Cyclotella delicatula* # Ds
        • Cyclotella glomerata *
        • Cyclotella krammeri *#
        • Cyclotella kuetzingiana (aka Cyclotella kutzingiana) *H
          • Cyclotella kuetzingiana var. planetophora (aka Cyclotella kuetzingiana var. phanetophora) H
        • Cyclotella meneghiniana *#
        • Cyclotella michiganiana*#
        • Cyclotella ocellata *#H De
        • Cyclotella pseudostelligeraE*#
        • Cyclotella stelligera *#
        • Cyclotella tecta *
        • Cyclotella unipunctata#
        • Cyclotella wolterecki E*#
      • Genus Cymatopleura
        • Cymatopleura elliptica H
        • Cymatopleura solea *#H
          • Cymatopleura solea var. apiculata H
      • Genus Cymbella
        • Cymbella affinis (aka Cocconema fusidium)#
        • Cymbella cesatii *
        • Cymbella cistula (aka Cocconema cistula)*
        • Cymbella delicatula *
        • Cymbella elginsis (aka C. turgida) H
        • Cymbella lanceolata (aka Cocconema lanceolatum) H
        • Cymbella mexicana H
        • Cymbella microcephala *#
        • Cymbella tumida H
      • Genus Denticula #
        • Denticula tenuis *
          • Denticula tenuis var. crassula H
      • Genus Diatoma
        • Diatoma ehrenbergii E
        • Diatoma hiemale #H
        • Diatoma tenue *#H
          • Diatoma tenue var. elongatum (aka Diatoma elongatum)*H
        • Diatoma vulgare#H
      • Genus Diploneis
        • Diploneis elliptica *
        • Diploneis oculata *
        • Diploneis ovalis *
        • Diploneis parma *
      • Genus Encyonema
        • Encyonema minutum (aka Cymbella minuta)*#
        • Encyonema norvegica (aka Cymbella norvegica)*
        • Encyonema prostratum (aka Cymbella prostrata, aka Gloeonema paradoxum)*#
        • Encyonema silesiacum (aka Cymbella minuta v. silesiacum)H
      • Genus Entomoneis
        • Entomoneis ornata *H
      • Genus Epithemia
        • Epithemia adnata H
          • Epithemia adnata var. saxonica H
        • Epithemia turgida H
      • Genus Eucocconeis
        • Eucocconeis flexella *H
        • Eucocconeis lapponica *
      • Genus Eunotia #
      • Genus Geissleria
        • Geissleria acceptata (aka Navicula acceptata)*
        • Geissleria decussis (aka Navicula decussis)#
      • Genus Gomphoneis
        • Gomphoneis herculeana H
        • Gomphoneis olivacea (aka Gomphonema olivaceum) *#H
      • Genus Gomphonema
        • Gomphonema acuminatum H
        • Gomphonema affine *
        • Gomphonema dichotomum *
        • Gomphonema gracile *
        • Gomphonema parvulum *
        • Gomphonema pseudotenellum (aka G. tenellum) *#
        • Gomphonema simus#
        • Gomphonema tergestinum *
        • Gomphonema ventricosum H
      • Genus Gyrosigma
        • Gyrosigma acuminatum (aka G. spencerii)*H
        • Gyrosigma attenuatum H
        • Gyrosigma sciotoense *#
      • Genus Hippodonta
        • Hippodonta capitata (aka Navicula capitata)*
      • Genus Karayevia
        • Karayevia clevei *#
      • Genus Kobaysia
        • Kobaysia subtilissima (aka Navicula subtilissima)#
      • Genus Martyana
        • Martyana martyi (aka Opephora martyi)*
      • Genus Pinnularia
        • Pinnularia major H
      • Genus Placoneis
        • Placoneis exigua (aka Navicula exigua)*
        • Placoneis gastrum (aka Navicula gastrum)*
        • Placoneis pseudanglica (aka Navicula anglica)*
      • Genus Planothidium
        • Planothidium haukianum*
        • Planothidium lanceolatum *#H
      • Genus Psammothidium
        • Psammothidium levanderi *
        • Psammothidium ventralis #
      • Genus Reimeria
        • Reimeria sinuata (aka Cymbella sinuata)*
      • Genus Rhoicosphenia#
        • Rhoicosphenia curvata *
      • Genus Sellaphora
        • Sellaphora pupula (aka Navicula pupula)*
        • Sellaphora seminulum (aka Navicula seminulum)*
      • Genus Stauroneis
        • Stauroneis smithii *
      • Genus Staurosira
        • Staurosira construens (aka Fragilaria construens)*#H
      • Genus Staurosirella
        • Staurosirella lapponica (aka Fragilaria lapponica)*
        • Staurosirella leptostauron (aka Fragilaria leptostauron)*H
        • Staurosirella pinnata (aka Fragilaria pinnata)*#H
      • Genus Surirella
        • Surirella birostrata *
        • Surirella brebissonii (aka Surirella ovata) *#H
      • Genus Synedra
        • Synedra acus *#
        • Synedra amphicephala *
        • Synedra cyclopum *#
        • Synedra delicatissima *#
        • Synedra filiformis *#
        • Synedra minuscula *
        • Synedra ostenfeldii *#
        • Synedra parasitica *
        • Synedra socia#
        • Synedra tenera #
        • Synedra ulna *#H
      • Genus Thalassiosira
        • Thalassiosira baltica E Do
        • Thalassiosira bramaputrae (aka Coscinodiscus lacustris, Thalassiosira lacustris)E*#
        • Thalassiosira guillardii EE
        • Thalassiosira pseudonana E
        • Thalassiosira weissflogii (aka Thalassiosira fluviatilis) *E
      • Genus Tryblionella
        • Tryblionella acuta (aka Nitzschia acuta)*
        • Tryblionella angustata (aka Nitzschia angustata)*#H
        • Tryblionella gracile (aka Nitzschia tryblionella)#
      • Genus Urosolenia
        • Urosolenia eriensis (aka Rhizosolenia eriensis)*H
        • Urosolenia longiseta (aka Rhizosolenia longiseta)*#

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Division Euglenophyta
  • Class Euglenophyceae
    • Order Euglenales
      • Family Euglenaceae
        • Genus Colacium
          • Colacium arbuscula
          • Colacium vesiculosum
        • Genus Euglena *
          • Euglena acus H
          • Euglena convoluta
          • Euglena deses
          • Euglena ehrenbergii
          • Euglena elastica
          • Euglena elongata
          • Euglena gracilis
          • Euglena minuta
          • Euglena oxyuris
          • Euglena polymorpha
          • Euglena proxima
          • Euglena sanguinea
          • Euglena spirogyra
          • Euglena tripteris
        • Genus Lepocinclis H
          • Lepocinclis acuta
          • Lepocinclis fusiformis
          • Lepocinclis glabra
          • Lepocinclis ovum
          • Lepocinclis playfairiana
          • Lepocinclis sphagnophila
        • Genus Phacus *#
          • Phacus acuminatus
          • Phacus alatus
          • Phacus anacoelus
          • Phacus asymmetrica
          • Phacus birgei
          • Phacus crenulata
          • Phacus chloroplastes
          • Phacus helikoides
          • Phacus lemmermannii
          • Phacus longicauda
          • Phacus nordstedtii
          • Phacus orbicularis
          • Phacus pleuronectes
          • Phacus pseudoswirenkoi
          • Phacus pyrum
          • Phacus segretii
          • Phacus spirogyra
          • Phacus suecicus
          • Phacus swirenkoi
          • Phacus tortus
          • Phacus triqueter
        • Genus Trachelomonas *
          • Trachelomonas abrupta
          • Trachelomonas acanthostoma
          • Trachelomonas aculeata
          • Trachelomonas armata
          • Trachelomonas bulla
          • Trachelomonas charkowiensis
          • Trachelomonas crebea
          • Trachelomonas cylindrica
          • Trachelomonas dubia
          • Trachelomonas dybowskii
          • Trachelomonas erecta
          • Trachelomonas euchlora
          • Trachelomonas giardiana
          • Trachelomonas granulosa
          • Trachelomonas hexangulata
          • Trachelomonas hispida
          • Trachelomonas horrida
          • Trachelomonas intermedia
          • Trachelomonas kelloggii
          • Trachelomonas lacustris
          • Trachelomonas mammillosa
          • Trachelomonas playfairii
          • Trachelomonas pulchella
          • Trachelomonas pulcherrima H
          • Trachelomonas robusta
          • Trachelomonas rotunda
          • Trachelomonas scabra
          • Trachelomonas similis
          • Trachelomonas speciosa
          • Trachelomonas spectabilis
          • Trachelomonas superba
          • Trachelomonas sydneyensis
          • Trachelomonas triangularis
          • Trachelomonas varians
          • Trachelomonas volvocina#H
Division Chloromonadophyta
  • Vacuolaria sp. ?*
  • Class Chloromonadineae

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Division Pyrrhophyta
  • Class Cryptophyceae
    • Family Cryptochrysidaceae
      • Genus Chroomonas
        • Chroomonas acuta*#
        • Chroomonas caudata*
        • Chroomonas nordstedtii*#
        • Chroomonas pochmanni*
      • Genus Rhodomonas
        • Rhodomonas lacustris*#
        • Rhodomonas lens*# DmDh
        • Rhodomonas minuta*#H DsDmDhDeDo
        • Rhodomonas pusilla*#
    • Family Cryptomonadaceae
      • Genus Chilomonas
        • Chilomonas acuta*
      • Genus Cryptomonas
        • Cryptomonas brevis*#
        • Cryptomonas caudalus#
        • Cryptomonas caudata*#
        • Cryptomonas curvata*#
        • Cryptomonas erosa*#H DsDmDhDeDo
        • Cryptomonas lobata*
        • Cryptomonas marssonii*#
        • Cryptomonas obovata*
        • Cryptomonas ovata*# DmDo
        • Cryptomonas parapyrenoidifera*#
        • Cryptomonas phaseolus*#
        • Cryptomonas platyuris*#
        • Cryptomonas pusilla*
        • Cryptomonas pyrenoidiosa#
        • Cryptomonas pyrenoidifera*# Dh
        • Cryptomonas reflexa*#
        • Cryptomonas rostratiformis*#
        • Cryptomonas tenuis*
        • Cryptomonas tetrapyrenoidiosa*#
  • Class Dinophyceae
    • Order Dinococcales
    • Order Dinotrichales
    • Order Gymnodiniales
    • Order Peridiniales
      • Family Ceratiaceae
        • Genus Ceratium
          • Ceratium carolinianum
          • Ceratium cornutum
          • Ceratium hirundinella*#H DhDeDo
      • Family Glenodiniaceae
        • Genus Glenodinium #
          • Glenodinium armatum
          • Glenodinium borgei
          • Glenodinium gymnodinium
          • Glenodinium kulczynskii
          • Glenodinium palustre
          • Glenodinium penardiforme
          • Glenodinium pulvisculus H
          • Glenodinium quadridens*
        • Genus Hemidinium
          • Hemidinium nasutum
      • Family Peridiniaceae
        • Genus Peridinium DmDhDo
          • Peridinium aciculiferum#
          • Peridinium cinctum*H
          • Peridinium gatunense
          • Peridinium inconspicuum*H
          • Peridinium limbatum
          • Peridinium pusillum H
          • Peridinium viguieri*#
          • Peridinium wisconsinense
          • Peridinium willei H

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Division Cyanophyta
  • Class Myxophyceae
    • Order Chamaesiphonales
      • Family Chamaesiphonaceae
    • Order Chroococcales
    • Order Hormogonales
      • SubOrder Homocystineae
        • Family Oscillatoriaceae
          • Genus Spirulina *#
            • Spirulina laxa
            • Spirulina laxissima
            • Spirulina major
            • Spirulina nordstedtii
            • Spirulina princeps
            • Spirulina subsalsa

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Division Rhodophyta
  • Class Rhodophyceae
    • Subclass Bangioideae

Based on: G.W. Prescott. 1962. Algae of the Western Great Lakes Area. Wm. C. Brown Co., Inc.

Diatom List from - Stoermer, E. F., Kreis, R. G. Jr. and Andresen, N. A. 1999 Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA siteChecklist of diatoms from the Laurentian Great lakes. II. Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA siteJ. Great Lakes Res. 25:515-566.

*Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA sitePlankton in Lake Michigan 1983 - 1992 . EPA/GLNPO. Epilimnetic Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Biomass and Species Composition in Lake Michigan, 1983 to 1992. Joseph C. Makarewicz, Theodore Lewis and Paul Bertram. October 1994. [Reports Stylotheca aurea - Other references to this species of Chrysophyte cannot be found so this species is not included in the above list]

#Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA sitePlankton in Lake Ontario 1986 - 1992. EPA/GLNPO. Epilimnetic Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Biomass and Species Composition in Lake Ontario, 1986 to 1992. Joseph C. Makarewicz, Theodore Lewis1 and Paul Bertram. July 1995.

E Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species List.

Ds Dm Dh De Do - Dominant algae species of each Lake - Per Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA siteResults From The Great Lakes National Program Office's Biological Open Water Surveillance Program Of The Laurentian Great Lakes for 1998. EPA.

H Brown and Manny. 1983. Nearshore Plankton of Hammond Bay, Lake Huron. Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA siteJGLR 9(4)523-529.

Additional taxonomic placements based on: Prescott. 1970. how to know the Freshwater Algae. Wm. C. Brown Co. [Ankyra, Chlorogonium, Lobomonas, Phacotus, Pyramidomonas, Sphaerellocystis, Bitrichia, Chromulina, Chrysarachnion, Chrysochromulina, Chrysococcus, Epipyxis, Kephyrion, Monosiga, Ochromonas, Pseudokephyrion, Salpingoeca, Stichogloea, Uroglena, Chilomonas, Rhodomonas, Amphidinium, Enteromorpha, Nitellopsis]

Additional taxonomic placements based on: Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA siteProtist Information Server. [Chlamydocapsa, Monoraphidium, Planktonema, Selenastrum, Sphaerellopsis]

Additional taxonomic placements based on: European Register of Marine Species [Hymenomonas]

Additional taxonomic placements based on: Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA siteSystema Naturae 2000 [Paraphysomonas, Spiniferomonas]

Additional taxonomic placements based on: Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA siteVCR LTER Biodiversity Database [Coccochloris]

?Additional Taxonomy, uncertain.[Chodatellopsis, Diplochloris, Echinocoleum, Gloedactinium, Chrysolykos, Isthmochloron, Sphacelariales]

Algae Links

Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA siteAlgal Image Laboratory - Bowling Green State University
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA siteGreat Lakes Diatom Home Page - University of Michigan
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA siteThe Wall - Michigan Tech
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA siteUniversity Paisley Biodiversity Reference
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA sitePhytopia

Bird icon indicates link to a non-GLERL NOAA siteIndicates a link to a non-GLERL NOAA website.
Globe icon indicates link to a non-NOAA siteIndicates a link to a non-NOAA website or content not generated by NOAA. NOAA is not responsible for the accuracy of content. Please check Privacy and Use Policies of the destination site.

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Last Updated: 2007-2-22

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